Reinforcing means for automobile radius-rods



O. E. WATSON.

REINFORCING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIUS RODS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1920.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

wiimeoo OLIVER E, WATSON, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

REINFORCING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIUS-RODS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Application filed June 5, 1920. Serial No. 386,896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Grrvnn E, Larson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reinforcing Means for Automobife Radius-Rods, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient reinforcing or bracing device for the front radius rods of automobiles of the Ford type. If no brace is provided, the sudden jars to which these rods are subjected cause them to work loose, and often break, at their front ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide on my reinforcing device, shoulders which are adapted to bear against the axle to protect the radius rod bolts against the jars to which the machine is incident. In other words, the strain is taken on of the bolts and thrown upon the shoulders.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a part of the front running gear of a Ford automobile, showing my improved bracing means secured to the radius rods thereof. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the apex end of the radius rod construction, showing my brace connected thereto. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken through the front axle, showing one end of my brace secured thereto. Fig. 4 is a front view of said axle, showing one end of the brace secured thereto. And Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line a-a of Fig. 2.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the if-shaped radius rod of a Ford automobile whose forked ends 2 and 3 are connected to the front axle 4 by bolts 5, 5. For the purpose of firmly bracing the radius rod construction 1, I have provided the following described device which thereto.

This device is preferably made up of two pieces of T-iron 6 and 7. Referring to Fig. 2, the rear end of the piece 6 is notched to receive he free end of the piece 7, whereby is adapted to be readily applied the stress or strain exerted upon one piece, will be firmly resisted by the other. The notch in the T-iron 6 receives the inner end of the T-iron 7 at an angle that corresponds to the angle between the radius rods 2 and 3.

Each T-iron is shaped to curve downwardly from its rear portion, to bring its front end into a position beneath the axlet to permit one of the bolts 5 to be passed through a hole in the horizontal portion of its front end. After this bolt is passed through said hole, a nut 8 is applied to it for the purpose of drawing the horizontal portion of the Tiron tightly against the bottom of the axle. The middle flange portion 9 of each T-iron projects forwardly to a point where it will bear firmly against the axle 4: when the horizontal portion of the T-iron is drawn tightly against the bottom of the axle by the nut. The front end of this flange portion 9, therefore, forms a shoulder which, by engaging the axle, rotects the bolt against shearing stresses. See Fig. 3.)

At its rear end, each one of the T-irons 6 and 7 is secured to its respective radius rod by a hook-shaped clamping member 10 whose bill portion firmly grlps the radius rod as shown in Fig. 5. The other end of the hook is threaded for projection through a hole in the horizontal'portion 0f the T- may be readily applied to the front radius rod construction of an automobile of the Ford type. Its front ends are secured to the front axle below the latter by the same bolts 5 that secure the front ends of the radius rods to the top port-ion of said axle. Through the engagement of the shoulders 9, 9 with the axle,

the bolts are protected against shearing stresses. Furthermore, longitudinal stresses are received directly by the a ex end of the brace, which prevents the ra ius rods from breaking off, or becoming bent.

Having described my invention, 1 claim: 1. In a device of the type described, the

combination with the axle of an automobile,

iron, and receives below said T-iron a nut of a Y-shaped radius rod structure, fastening elements for, securing the front ends of sald structure to said axle, an angle brace applied to said forked portion, and secured at its front ends to the bottom portion of the axle, and shoulders on said front ends of the brace to engage the side portion of the axle for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination with the axle of an automobile, of a Y-shaped radius rod structure, bolts for securing the front ends of said structure to the top portion of said axle, an angle brace applied to the forked portion of said radius rod structure, whose front ends are secured to the bottom portion of the axle by said bolts, and shoulders on said brace adapted to engage the side portion of said axle to protect said boltsfrom shearing stresses.

3. In a device of the type described, the combination with an axle of an automobile, of a Y-shaped radius rod structure whose forked portion is secured to said axle, a pair of T-irons, one of said T-irons having a notch provided in its horizontal portion, at one end, to receive an end of the horizontal portion of the other T-iron at an angle forked ends of said radius rod structure, to

bring the apex of the angle formed by said T-irons within the angle formed by the forked portion of said structure.

4. In a device of the type described, the combination with an axle of an automobile, of a Y-shaped radius rod structure, bolts for securing the front ends of said structure to the top portion of said axle, means for connecting the rear ends of a pair of T-irons to the rear part of the forked portion of said radius rod structure, and front horizontal extensions on said T-irons for connection to the bottom of said axle by the bolts, at a point which allows the front ends of the flange portions of said T-irons to engage the side of the axle for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th da of May, 1920.

I OLI ER E, WATSON.

Witness:

HOWARD S. SMITH. 

